Automobile direction indicator



May 31, 1932. B MCCAINE 1,861,126

AUTOMOBILE DIRECTION INDICATOR Filed Oct. 1, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor A tiorncy May 31, 1932. B, Mc Am-g 1,861,126

AUTOMOBILE DIRECTION INDICATOR Filed Oct. 1, 1929 2 $heets-Sheet 2 yd gumm Attorney nay a1. 1932 1,861,126

OFFICE This invention apperiains t: and useand suitably insulated from the base 5. iul in'iprovcinents in t p frown These magnets are arranged in alinement and as electrical signalli V L alarat opposite sides of the armature which is ly to a novel direction signal for automobiles generally i icrred to by numeral 13. This a for indicating to pedestrians and adjacent armature is of av suitable metal and includes traiiic the drivers intention to make. turn a plate 14 with a bolt 15 extending through and in which direction. one end for swingably supportin the same An important object of the invention is to in proper relation with respect to the magnets provide a direction indicator for automobiles 10 and 11.

to which is of simple construction, and not sus- The opposite end of the plate 14 has a U- O0 ccptibie to the development of ready defects. shaped guide 16 extending therefrom, the

Another important object of the invention tree ends of its legs being secured to the plate is to provide a signal of the character de iiby welding or some other means or method. scribed which will positively indicate the in Figure 5, a carrier for the signal ele- Ici direction in which the driver intends to proincnt 17 is generally referred t by numeral 65 cecd. l8 and includes a cylindrical body 19 from Still another important object of the iuwhich an elongated stem 20 extends. The ycntion is to provide a signal which can be lower end of the body 19 is recessed to re easily manipulated by the driver of a re ccivc the internally threaded bushing 21.

2% hiclc. The lower end of the body 19 has a circum- 10 The reader will become aware of numerous i'ercnlial shoulder 22 thereon from which exothcr important objects and advantages of tends an arm 23 with its outer end portion disihe invention as this specification proceeds. posed upwardly at right angles in the man- In the drawings: 4 nor clearly shown in Figure 5. i 25 Figure 1 represents a front elevation of" A screw 251s cngagcd through an opening the novel signal. in the base 5 and threaded into the bushing Figure 2 represents a top plan view of 2Lthebodyl9bcing allowed to swivel or rothe signal. tate on the bushing Ql. hen the body 19 Figure 3 represents a top plan view of the has been so mounted. the upwardly disposed 30 operating mechanism with the indicator and portion 24 of the arm 23 will be disposed housing removed. through the U'shapcd extension 16 of the ar- Figure i represents a vertical sectional mature in the manner clearly shown in Figiew through thecntire device. ures 3 and 4.

Figure 5 represents a perspective view of. A housing for the foregoing mechanism is 35 the signal clement carrier. denoted by numeral 26 the same being open Figure 6 is a diagrammatic ricw diselosat its bottom and secured over the base 5 by ing the electrical devices and the connections any suitable means. The top of the housbetwecn the same. ion has an opening therein which registers Referring to the drawings, wherein llhO with an opening in the internally threaded 4 numerals designate like parts, it will be seen socket ((HlFllllPllUll 27. This socket 27 serves that this novel direction indicator consists to rcccivc the threaded nccl; portion 28 of in construction of a base 5 from which dcthe globe -20. which globe has its rear half pends a threaded nipple 6 for disposition portion made opaque as at 30 by any suitable through an opening in the end of a suitable mean such as the application of paint or supporting bracket 7. A washer 8 is intcrsome step in thc process of manufacturing the 96 posed between the bracket 7 and the base 5 globe. and a nut 9 may be engaged on the nipple Asisclcarly shown in Figure 4. the stem 20 for securing these parts firmly together. extends upwardly through the registering Mounted upon the base 5 are the electroopenings aforementioned and has its upper magnets 10 and 11, supported by the brackets end disposcd through the collar 31 which is located at the tag portion of the arrow shaped indicator 17. en the armature 14 is in neutral position between the magnets 10 and 11, the indicator 17 will be disposed in substantially the same plane, and by adjusting the set screw 33, the indicator may be adjusted on the stem 20. The armature 14 is held in neutral position by the springs 32.

A pair of bulbs 34-34 are located within the globe 29 and are also shown in the diagram of Figure 6. In this diagrammatic view, a pair of switches 35 and 36 are shown. By engaging the switch 36 with the contact 37, current will flow from the battery 38 to energize the magnet 11, light one of the lamps V 34 and attract the armature 14.

This will result in the swinging of the indicator toward the right to indicate that the driver intends to direct his automobile toward the right. or in other words, to make a right turn. When the left switch 35 is closed by engaging the contact 38, the magnet 10 is energized and the corresponding lamp 34 is illuminated. This operation attracts the armature 13 so that the indicator 17 swings to the left. It is preferable that these switches 35 and 36 be located on the steering wheel in easy reach of the driver so that no effort will be required in executing the signal.

Manifestly, the invention possesses numerous advantages over the types of indicators of this character now in use. and during the manufacture of this invention it is to be understood that various changes may be resorted to without exceeding the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention. what is claimed as new is:

In a directional signal, a base. a pair of opposed electric magnets clamped upon the base. an armature pivotally connected at one end to the base and extending between the magnet. springs connected with the pivoted end of the armature for holding the same in a central position between the magnets, a U- shaped member having the ends of its limbs fastened to the free end of the armature, a vertically arranged stem having its lower end rotatably supported on the base and an arm connected to the lower part of the stem having an upwardly extending portion passing through the U-shaped member whereby the stem will be partly rotated and the armature is moved by either magnet.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature.

HARRY B. MGCAINE. 

